DCUM Forum

Anonymous

12/27/2019 11:58 Subject: What commonly known thing did you learn at an embarrassingly older age?

I was already married and in my 30s when I first learned that a man is supposed to asked the bride's father for permission to get married. Never occurred to me.

Anonymous

12/27/2019 07:29 Subject: What commonly known thing did you learn at an embarrassingly older age?

In my early 30s (when I moved to DC) I learned that the pentagon was... a pentagon. I knew the name of the building & what happened there, but no clue the building was that shape.

Anonymous

12/26/2019 16:30 Subject: What commonly known thing did you learn at an embarrassingly older age?

I still can’t figure out how to hang lights on the exterior of my house. I don’t celebrate Christmas, but people in my neighborhood often hang lights for Halloween. I spent a lot of time and trips to Home Depot. I forget every year since I only hang them once per year so I have to learn all over again.

Anonymous

12/26/2019 16:16 Subject: Re:What commonly known thing did you learn at an embarrassingly older age?

I didn't know what a MILF was until I was 53

Anonymous

12/26/2019 16:14 Subject: What commonly known thing did you learn at an embarrassingly older age?

I grew up with live-in help and had a few discoveries in my late twenties:

- that vacuums had a dirt bag you had to empty every now and again. A kind friend showed me when I complained my vacuum doesn't pick up trash anymore.

- that dryers accumulate lint during drying, which has to be taken out after each load. A kind friend showed me by taking out a brick-sized bunch of lint when I complained that my dryer doesn't dry anymore.

On a more flattering side, I learned to figure skate all the way to single jumps at 31.

Anonymous

12/26/2019 09:22 Subject: What commonly known thing did you learn at an embarrassingly older age?

Anonymous wrote:In the 90s, my sister, getting ready to go to college when she was 18, asked me if our dad would continue to pay the electric bill for her car. She did know how to charge gas on the credit card, but thought there was a separate electric bill.

She was outdone by one of her best friends who realized that you needed to change / refill the oil in your automobile only after her engine melted down - She had never had an oil change since her dad bought her the car - but I blame the dad for that one.

Either I am one of your sister’s best friends from college, or there were two of us who did not know about oil changes.

Anonymous

12/26/2019 08:45 Subject: Re:What commonly known thing did you learn at an embarrassingly older age?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That all Asians are not universally referred to as “orientals”. Thanks rural Ohio.

"Oriental" used to be the same as "Asian." These stupid things change. I had Vietnamese friends who used the term "Oriental" to mean "Asian" so I guess it's okay for some but not others?

My grandma says “China-man”

Anonymous

12/26/2019 08:44 Subject: What commonly known thing did you learn at an embarrassingly older age?

Anonymous wrote:Also yes, I too am surprised how many people won’t pay for their kids’ college out of principle or because they are saving for retirement. I think with the increased immigration from cultures where it is expected to support the kids to get support from them inthe old age, this setup offers a leg up to those immigrant children. Then later many of them work the system to make out their parents to be low income, all the while helping them financially. I know this as an immigrant and it’s rampant in my community and even more so in others.
The country was set up for the Protestant ethos and not this other setup. It’s going to blow into many of our kids faces one day.
Sorry about taking this off tangent.

This is interesting stuff. Yes, this country was set up a certain way but if people play by their own rules (the president, immigrants) we are in for interesting times, indeed.

Anonymous

12/26/2019 08:42 Subject: What commonly known thing did you learn at an embarrassingly older age?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I only discovered the word “futureproof” yesterday.

Whoever used it--tell them they are simply wrong.

It was in an article, smth along the lines of “this smart lock being relatively futureproof”. I looked it up and it’s actually an adjective and a verb. Go figure.

Anonymous

12/26/2019 08:40 Subject: What commonly known thing did you learn at an embarrassingly older age?

Also yes, I too am surprised how many people won’t pay for their kids’ college out of principle or because they are saving for retirement. I think with the increased immigration from cultures where it is expected to support the kids to get support from them inthe old age, this setup offers a leg up to those immigrant children. Then later many of them work the system to make out their parents to be low income, all the while helping them financially. I know this as an immigrant and it’s rampant in my community and even more so in others.
The country was set up for the Protestant ethos and not this other setup. It’s going to blow into many of our kids faces one day.
Sorry about taking this off tangent.

Anonymous

12/26/2019 08:08 Subject: What commonly known thing did you learn at an embarrassingly older age?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was in my 50s when I learned Billy Joel is Jewish. Thought he was an Irish Catholic.

It’s kind of crazy to me that anyone ever thought about his religion. Can’t say I know the religion of anyone famous except Tom cruise.

Because if the song “only the good die young” when he talks about catholic girls?

Anonymous

12/26/2019 08:02 Subject: What commonly known thing did you learn at an embarrassingly older age?

Anonymous wrote:I thought their lyrics to the Michael Jackson song was, Annie are you WALKING."
BUt it's:

Annie, are you ok?
So, Annie are you ok
Are you ok, Annie
Annie, are you ok?
So, Annie are you ok
Are you ok, Annie
Annie, are you ok?
So, Annie are you ok?
Are you ok, Annie?
Annie, are you ok?
So, Annie are you ok, are you ok Annie?

I thought the same thing, up until reading your post! Makes SO much more sense now! Although I’m so conflicted when hearing his music, I try not to anymore.

Anonymous

12/26/2019 08:01 Subject: What commonly known thing did you learn at an embarrassingly older age?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was in my 50s when I learned Billy Joel is Jewish. Thought he was an Irish Catholic.

It’s kind of crazy to me that anyone ever thought about his religion. Can’t say I know the religion of anyone famous except Tom cruise.

It’s a Northeastern thing. Philly and New York. You notice. I thought he was Catholic at first too. He sings about things that seem from a catholic upbringing like Italian restaurants and catholic schools.

Anonymous

12/26/2019 07:58 Subject: What commonly known thing did you learn at an embarrassingly older age?

Anonymous wrote:Was in my 50s when I learned Billy Joel is Jewish. Thought he was an Irish Catholic.

It’s kind of crazy to me that anyone ever thought about his religion. Can’t say I know the religion of anyone famous except Tom cruise.

Anonymous

12/26/2019 07:42 Subject: What commonly known thing did you learn at an embarrassingly older age?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The meaning of the lyrics of most of my favorite songs from the 70s...and 80's for that matter!

Lol
Yes
I thought song lyrics “afternoon delight” was akin to Narnia’s Turkish delight (dessert)

I read the Narnia books 40 years ago and I still don’t know what Turkish Delight is.

It is similar to the consistency of jello and the flavor of rose water. Sometimes it’s coated in chocolate. Essentially it’s a candy.

It’s chewier than jello. More like a Welch’s fruit snack or a gummy bear.

Is it much more appetizing than it sounds from that description?

DP. I haven't actually had it but I've heard it's disappointing.

It's in a couple seasonal catalogs. I guess I could order some.

If it’s the real stuff, it’s delicious.